AP News Digest 2:10 p.m.
Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org
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PUBLIC HEALTH-LEADER DEPARTURES — An investigation finds that at least 181 public health leaders in 38 states have resigned, retired or been fired since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The investigation by The Associated Press and Kaiser Health News shows that at the same time, lawmakers in 24 states have crafted legislation to weaken public health powers. By Anna Maria Barry-Jester, Hannah Recht, Michelle R. Smith and Lauren Weber. SENT: 3,110 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,240 words is also available. With PUBLIC HEALTH-LEADER DEPARTURES-PORTRAITS — Public health leaders, in their own words. SENT: 810 words, photos.
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ELECTION 2020-BIDEN — More than a month after Democrat Joe Biden’s victory, some high-profile holdouts are embracing reality: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulates Biden on his win. So does Russian President Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to meet with his likely successor and even Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has spoken with Biden. Will that be enough to smooth Biden’s transition to the White House with Inauguration Day barely a month away and Trump continuing to resist? By Will Weissert. UPCOMING: 900 words by 5 p.m., photos. With: BIDEN-THE LATEST (sent, developing)
MED-VIRUS OUTBREAK-VACCINES — Hundreds more hospitals around the country began dispensing COVID-19 shots to their workers in a rapid expansion of the U.S. vaccination drive, while a second vaccine moved to the cusp of government authorization. A day after the rollout of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus shots, the Food and Drug Administration said its preliminary analysis confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. A panel of outside experts is expected to vote to recommend the formula on Thursday, with the FDA’s green light coming soon thereafter. By Matthew Perrone, Lauran Neergaard and David Porter. SENT: 830 words, photos. With MED-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-HOME-TEST — Over-the-counter home test for COVID-19 gets US green light. SENT: 410 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS — With new urgency over COVID-19 aid, Congress’ top leaders try to seal a scaled-back bipartisan package that would provide relief to some businesses and Americans but likely drop Democratic demands for money for state and local governments whose budgets have been strained by the pandemic. By Andrew Taylor. SENT: 850 words, photo. UPCOMING: Developing, 890 words by 5 p.m.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — With Americans, Britons and Canadians rolling up their sleeves to receive coronavirus vaccines, the route out of the pandemic now seems clear to many in the West, even if the rollout will take many months. But for poorer countries, the road will be far longer and rougher. The ambitious initiative known as COVAX created to ensure the entire world has access to COVID-19 vaccines has secured only a fraction of the 2 billion doses it hopes to buy over the next year, has yet to confirm any actual deals to ship out vaccines and is short on cash. By Maria Cheng and Aniruddha Ghosal. SENT: 1,260 words, photos.
ARAB SPRING-A DECADE LATER — Was it real? It’s all been erased so completely, so much blood has been shed and destruction wreaked over the past decade. The idea that there was a moment when millions across the Middle East wanted freedom and change so much that they took to the streets seems like romantic nostalgia. By Lee Keath. SENT: 1,420 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,000 words is also available.
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BOOKS-JAY-Z-RANDOM HOUSE — Jay-Z’s Roc Nation forms book publisher with Random House. SENT: 300 words, photo.
NEW-YEAR’S-ROCKIN’-EVE — J. Lo, Billy Porter to perform at ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’. SENT: 150 words, photo.
FBN-CBS-NICKELODEON-PLAYOFF-GAME — Get ready for SpongeBob SquarePants running out of the tunnel, players being covered with digital slime after touchdowns and commentary from the cast of “All That” when Nickelodeon airs an NFL playoff game. SENT: 560 words.
JAPAN-TWITTER-KILLER — Japan ‘Twitter killer’ sentenced to death for serial murders. SENT: 300 words, photos.
NETHERLANDS-WORD-OF-THE-YEAR — Noun describing social distancing is Dutch word of the year. SENT: 240 words, photos.
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VIRUS-OUTBREAK-EMA-EXPLAINER — As Canadians, Britons and Americans begin getting immunized with a German-developed vaccine against coronavirus, pressure is building on the European Medicines Agency to approve the shot made by Pfizer Inc. and the German company BioNTech. SENT: 880 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-GERMANY — EU regulators move up Pfizer vaccine assessment to Dec. 21. SENT: 820 words, photos.
VIRUS-OUTBREAK-SWEDEN — Health officials in Sweden, which opted not to respond to the first wave of COVID-19 with a national lockdown, misjudged the power of the virus’s resurgence, the country’s prime minister said, and an independent commission criticized the country’s strategy. SENT: 570 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-BRITAIN — The British government faced mounting calls to reassess its plans to ease coronavirus restrictions for a few days over Christmas, following a spike in new infections that will see tougher rules imposed on London and some surrounding areas.. SENT: 600 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-PUERTO RICO — A respiratory therapist who treated the first two COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Puerto Rico became the first person in the U.S. territory to be vaccinated against the virus. SENT: 470 words, photo. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-SPORTS — To stay physically active this winter while limiting the risk of coronavirus infections, experts suggest activities you do alone or with members of your household. SENT: 210 words, graphic.
ONE GOOD THING-OPERATION SANTA — Pandemic prompts scaled back Christmas tradition in Alaska. SENT: 520 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
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SENATE-BIDEN-GEORGIA — Republicans eager to cement GOP control of the U.S. Senate have branded Georgia’s Democratic candidates – Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock -- as puppets who would ensure a leftist takeover of the federal government. President-elect Joe Biden, the first presidential candidate to win Georgia since 1992, aims to counter that with a visit to the state. By Bill Barrow. SENT: 990 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing from Biden Georgia event about 2:30 p.m., 950 words photos, video by 5 p.m.
BIDEN-INAUGURATION — President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take their oaths of office outside the U.S. Capital building as inauguration planners seek to craft an event that captures the traditional grandeur of the historic ceremony while complying with COVID-19 protocols. Still unknown: whether out-going President Donald Trump will participate. By Ashraf Khalil. SENT: 410 words, photo. UPCOMING: 790 words, photos by 4 p.m.
MELANIA TRUMP — Melania Trump isn’t letting the coronavirus pandemic break a decadeslong tradition of first ladies visiting a Washington children’s hospital at the holidays. She makes her fourth and final holiday visit as first lady to Children’s National, continuing a tradition begun more than 70 years ago by first lady Bess Truman. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 330 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing, 450 words by 4 p.m..
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NIGERIA-BOKO HARAM-SCHOOL ATTACK — Rebels from the Boko Haram extremist group claimed responsibility for abducting hundreds of boys from a school in Nigeria’s northern Katsina State last week in one of the largest such attacks in years, raising fears of a growing wave of violence in the region. More than 330 students remain missing from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara after gunmen with assault rifles attacked their school, although scores of others managed to escape. SENT: 980 words, photos.
ISRAEL-AUSTRALIA — Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal challenging the extradition of a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of child sex abuse, clearing the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal saga.. SENT: 500 words, photo.
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BC-RELIGION-CHURCH VANDALISM — Vandalism at four downtown Washington churches after rallies in support of President Donald Trump is exposing rifts among people of faith as the nation confronts bitter post-election political divisions. Among the damaged houses of worship were two historically Black churches where people ripped down Black Lives Matter banners, with video posted to social media showing one banner being burned. Those defacements – which are being investigated as possible hate crimes, according to the police – raised questions among some clergy and churchgoers about why more fellow Christians were not speaking out against the incidents. SENT: 870 words, photos.
MINNESOTA-JUVENILE LIFER — Minnesota’s pardon board will consider freeing a Black man sentenced to life in prison as a teen in a high-profile murder case that has raised questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system that put him away. SENT: 810 words, photos.
DONNER PARTY-ESCAPE TRAIL — A pair of backcountry endurance athletes who became obsessed with the Donner Party spent the last seven years researching and exploring the Sierra on foot to try to pinpoint the final 90-mile route survivors of the infamous tale of cannibalism finally cut through mountain snow drifts to safety in the winter of 1846-47. SENT: 840 words, photo.
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EUROPE-TECH-REGULATION — Big tech companies face hefty fines in the European Union and Britain if they treat rivals unfairly or fail to protect users on their platforms, in proposed regulations unveiled by officials in Brussels and London. The EU outlined the long-awaited, sweeping overhaul of its digital rulebook while the British government released its own plans to step up policing of harmful material online, signaling the next phase of technology regulation in Europe. SENT: 820 words, photos.
FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks on Wall Street are making another run at breaking their losing streak, climbing as negotiations drag on in Washington on whether to deliver more support for the economy. SENT: 670 words, photos.
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SCIENCE
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MONARCH BUTTERFLY — Federal officials declare the monarch butterfly “a candidate” for threatened or endangered status but say no action would be taken for several years because of the many other species waiting for that designation. Environmentalists say delay could spell disaster for the black-and-orange butterfly, once a common sight in backyard gardens, meadows and other landscapes now seeing its population dwindling. By John Flesher. SENT: 770 words. UPCOMING: 790 words by 4 p.m., photos.
BRITAIN-ANTARCTIC ICEBERG — The British Antarctic Survey says a team of scientists will set off next month on a research mission to find out the impact of a giant floating iceberg on the wildlife and marine life on a sub-Antarctic island. The huge iceberg — the size of the U.S. state of Delaware — is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) from the island of South Georgia, and scientists are concerned over the risks it poses to the wildlife in the area if it grounds near the island. SENT: 390 words, photos.
JAPAN-ASTEROID PROBE — Officials from Japan’s space agency say they have found more than the anticipated amount of soil and gases inside a small capsule the country’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft brought back from a distant asteroid this month, a mission they praised as a milestone for planetary research. SENT: 570 words, photos.
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K-POP-PANDEMIC — While popular K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink have gone from strength to strength during the coronavirus pandemic, lesser-known acts are struggling. SENT: 670 words, photos.
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BEHIND THE CALL — The NFL won’t be cutting in line to get the coronavirus vaccine. “No one should be thinking about the vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and the most vulnerable people right now,” said DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association. By Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton. SENT: 930 words, photos.
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